Bollywood film icon Amitabh Bachchan will be in Bradford next week for the official launch of the Indian Oscars'.

The superstar will be at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television on Thursday for the official launch of next year's International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend.

The Yorkshire region beat competition from New York, Barcelona and Hong Kong earlier this year in its bid to host the 2007 event.

About 400 stars are expected to descend on the city for a weekend in June.

The career of Mr Bachchan, who is the brand ambassador for the IIFA, spans four decades and includes more than 160 feature films. He hosts the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

The 64-year-old still manages to pull in audiences and secure sell-out appearances while a waxwork of him was placed in Madame Tussaud's in 2000.

His enormous appeal was confirmed when he was voted actor of the millennium by BBC News Online readers.

IIFA director Andre Timmins said: "The International Indian Film Academy brings an experience that has a reach bearing no boundaries and brings together people regardless of race, culture, or religion.

"It aims to diminish the divide in today's world creating everyone's dream: One People, One World'.

"IIFA looks to open minds and act as a catalyst to create opportunities that build bridges across cinemas, communities, businesses and nations."

Previous ceremonies have been held in Johannesburg and Singapore and the inaugural awards in 2000 took place at London's Millennium Dome.

Next year's event is due to kick off with the biggest names in Bollywood taking to the red carpet in front of the global media for the premiere of the year's biggest Bollywood epic.

The second day sees the stars change their scripts for bat and pads in a charity cricket match versus professional sportsmen. Headingley Cricket Ground is likely to host the event.

The IIFA Awards ceremony itself will take place on the third day with stars, guests and VIPs gathering for the day-long event alongside a paying audience of more than 12,000 fans.

The fourth day sees those involved in making the films touring the region in search of locations. The places are being kept secret until nearer the time.

With an audience of more than one billion in India and more than 20 million in 58 other countries, Indian cinema could open up a whole new market for Yorkshire as a "must-see location" for committed fans ready to visit the places where their favourite films were shot.

e-mail: saima.mir@bradford.newsquest.co.uk